[ ♪ theme ] >> bill: thursday, thursday august 15. good morning, everybody. welcome to the "full court press," right here on current tv. one more day. this is it on current tv. good to see you today. thank you for joining us wherever you happen to be in this great land of ours. we're coming to you live from our nation's capital as always. we'll bring you the news of the day and give you on current tv, one last chance to join us at 1-866-55-press. on twitter at bpshow and on

facebook at facebook.com/billpressshow. join the conversation. if you haven't already done so, now is the time! well, they finally got some sunshine up in martha's vineyard yesterday and the president took advantage of it. a long round of -- five-hour round of golf in. then out for cocktails last night. out for dinner with the first lady and friends and they stayed at the restaurant until 11:30 last night. shut it down. today, we don't know what's on the schedule. hasn't been to the beach yet at martha's vineyard. hopefully get beach time in there, a good swim in the ocean. back here in d.c., having voted 40 times to repeal obamacare, republicans are now running around the country in their town halls promising to shut down the government if they don't defund obamacare. nut jobs like ted cruz in the senate and tom mcclintock in the house leading the fight on that.

and each, the situation getting worse and worse with the murder of almost 300 protestors yesterday. find out more on current tv.

this show is about analyzing, criticizing, and holding policy to the fire. are you encouraged by what you heard the president say the other night? is this personal, or is it political? a lot of my work happens by doing the things that i'm given to doing anyway, by staying in touch with everything that is going on politically and putting my own nuance on it. in reality it's not like they actually care. this is purely about political grandstanding. i've worn lots of hats, but i've always kept this going. i've been doing politics now for a dozen years. (vo) he's been called the epic politics man. he's michael shure and his arena is the war room. >> these republicans in congress

atlantic ocean border and pacific ocean border. the bloggers and the people that are sort of compiling the best of the day. i do a lot of looking at those people as well. not only does senator rubio just care about rich people, but somehow he thinks raising the minimum wage is a bad idea for the middle class. but we do care about them right? (vo) this afternoon, current tv is the place for compelling true stories. >> jack, how old are you? >> nine. >> this is what 27 tons of marijuana looks like. (vo) with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines, way inside. (vo) from the underworld, to the world of privilege. >> everyone in michael jackson's life was out to use him. (vo) no one brings you more documentaries that are real, gripping, current.

>> bill: murder in the streets of egypt and all we can say is please stop. great to see you today. it is the middle of august. august 15 on a thursday. and this is the "full court press." coming to you live on your local progressive talk radio station. and this last day on current tv.

what do you say? hope you're having a happy summer and are ready to join us here for the next three hours to tackle the news of the day and have a good conversation about it. your morning town hall here from -- coming from our nation's capital and our studio on capitol hill. bringing you the news of the day. to the extent there is any news out of washington. certainly news around the rest of the country. and the rest of the world, particularly with the bloodshed in egypt and more and more pressure on the united states to take some serious action to let the egyptian military know that we are not supportive of this military coup and particularly the way they are now trying to enforce their rule over the people of egypt. 1-866-55-press is our toll free number. for your chance to comment on

the news of the day and tell us what it all means to you. or you can join us on twitter at bpshow. invite your comments there and your comments on facebook at facebook.com/billpressshow. here we go with the whole team here in place today, peter ogborn and dan henning. >> hey, hey. >> good morning. >> bill: alichia cruz has the phones covered. cyprian bowlding on this -- it is all over for cyprian, right, because this is the last day for current. [ laughter ] >> no, not even close. get back, cyprian. you can't leave yet. >> bill: that's a good point. we have to remind everybody, first and foremost, we are a radio show. we are a radio show that happens to have been also seen on tv for the last year and a half. we will continue as a radio show today and tomorrow morning and on -- going on all of our progressive talk radio stations.

don't worry about that. we'll take a little hiatus on the tv side of the equation but we've got exciting news. we'll be popping back up on two fronts videowise starting september 3rd. on tv, if you have a satellite dish, you can watch us on dish network -- no -- yeah -- dish network or directv. >> yep. >> bill: and online, you can watch us on a brand new outfit. this is the first time we're telling you about this called talker.tv. i want to be sure i spell it right because it is a little tricky here. tawkr.tv. and you cannot only live stream us on your computer over tawkr.tv but they'll have our show up, all parts of the show, different parts of the show all day long and if you miss it in

the morning, you can listen or watch rather in the afternoon or you can watch part of the show or the whole three hours. it's going to be just great. so those are the options, right, peter? did i forget anything? >> that's got it covered. you can always check out the tawkr.tv. we've got updates there. sign up to get updates about how we're progressing on that. it will be very exciting because it is going to be sort of a new internet channel. >> bill: all new internet channel. like a youtube channel. again, on tv, it is dish network or directv starting september 3rd. and online, it is tawkr.tv. by the way, billpressshow.com, we've got all of the information up, too, you can follow us. so there you go. well, a lot of attention here on the east coast. of course to anthony weiner,

back out on the west coast, most of the attention particularly in southern california is around bob filner. he is, i think, finishing up his second week of so-called therapy. >> he's done. >> bill: he's out of therapy? >> he went in. >> bill: he's a cured man? >> he's cured. alleluia. >> bill: the recall movement has started in san diego. we hope that succeeds because he's probably not going to resign but he did get one bit of bad news as conan o'brien told us last night. he can no longer go to his favorite restaurant in san diego. >> this guy, the mayor, still acting mayor, still serving mayor, has been accused of sexually harassing 14 women, this guy. well, a hooters in san diego has now put up a sign saying they won't serve mayor bob filner because he disrespects women. [ laughter ] they said we don't want him as a customer but we love him as a

manager, actually. this guy would have ideas. >> bill: you know you're bad when hooters won't serve you. all right. so we've got a lot of friends coming up today. brad woodhouse, former communications director of the dnc now with americans united for change is going to join us this hour at the half. jamal simmons will be here as our good friend, democratic strategist, as a "friend of bill." and joe cirincione from the ploughshares fund, one of our all-time favorite guests in studio as well today. good reason for staying around. don't make any other plans for the next three hours! we'll keep you informed and entertained. and we get to egypt and the horrible situation there. but first... >> this is the "full court press." >> other headlines make news on this thursday, the president continues to enjoy his vacation on martha's vineyard.

played another round of golf at the vineyard golf club. played with the president of the world bank, jim kim, former trade rep ron kirk who he played with earlier this week and comcast ceo brian roberts. still no word on what the president is shooting on 18 holes these days. >> sounds like you're mixing cocktails over there. >> bill: it sounds like i'm shaking a martini and i wish i were. sorry. there we go. >> one of the highest profile quarterbacks in the nfl was injured during practice yesterday. new england patriots qw tom brady took a hit and limped off the field. he hurt his left knee -- >> bill: maybe tim tebow would be able to play now. >> he tore a ligament in the knee back in 2008, causing him to miss the entire season. interesting to note, yesterday was tim tebow's birthday.

>> now, starting at quarterback for the new england patriots, tim tebow! everybody races for the exit. >> brady did have an mri. espn is reporting that it came back negative but more details on the injury still to look at. more expensive to raise a child today. >> i want to see tim tebow -- dear god, please let him get injured so i can start for the patriots. it got delivered, maybe. >> quite the birthday present. it is more expensive than ever to raise a child today. a new report from the department of agriculture shows the cost of raising a kid from birth to the age of 18 not including paying for college is now $241,000. that's 23% higher than 50 years ago when adjusted for inflation. cbs reports the biggest factor of the high cost is increasing out-of-pocket healthcare payments and child care expenses.

>> bill: $241,000. did you factor that in, peter, when you decided to have two kids? >> i didn't. man. that sounds about right. >> bill: boy. this situation in egypt just keeps getting worse and worse and worse. headline in "the new york times" this morning, hundreds of egyptians killed in government raids. emergency declared as sectarian violence spreads. headline in "the washington post" clashes spread after egypt crackdown. you know what happened, the latest death count seems to be -- there's so many hard to keep track of. but the latest i've seen is 281 with over 1,000 wounded. of course, this is still the aftermath of the coup and let's call it a coup and i've called it a coup from the very

beginning. when the military ousted president morsi who was remember, elected, duly elected by the egyptian people in their first free elections after tossing president mubarak out of office. he may be the muslim brotherhood but they organized politically. they won that election. certainly was not a huge success as president. the economy was really suffering. but you know, the way democracy works, you elect the president. you don't like him, you wait until the next election then you throw him out and you elect somebody else. the people of egypt didn't want that. maybe didn't understand. they begged the military to intervene. and take over again which they did and now the egyptian military just cracking down worse and worse and preventing

any kind of peaceful protest against their takeover. there was a demonstration maybe about a month ago where they -- the military opened fire on nonviolent protestors, killing some 75. then after that, couple of weeks ago, you know the muslim brotherhood, they set up a camp in one part of cairo. thousands of people there. the military had warned them, you have to disbanded. you can't just say there. it is sort of like -- it reminded me of the occupy protestors last summer here in the united states. but in this case, yesterday, the military rolled in with armored vehicles, snipers on the rooftops and they just opened fire. men, women and children indiscriminately, 281 killed in cold-blooded murder. what did we do yesterday? here is as strong as we got.

first of all, the united states has still not called this a coup. and the reason we have not called it a coup is because if, in fact, the military, which they did, over -- military overthrew the legitimate government in a coup in egypt, we, by law, are required to cut off the aid we give egypt which amounts to $1.3 billion a year to the egyptian military and we've been giving them that for decades. so we haven't called it a coup. secretary of state john kerry yesterday after word of the violence spread, came out with this -- now 421 dead, peter. so here's john kerry condemning the violence. >> the united states strongly condemns today's violence and bloodshed across egypt. >> bill: john kerry says come on, military. we want you to respect human rights. >> we call on the government to

respect basic human rights including freedom, peaceful assembly and due process under the law. and we believe that the state of emergency should end as soon as possible. >> bill: on martha's vineyard yesterday, deputy press secretary josh ernest echoed what the secretary of state said. >> saying the words will cut off our influence there. >> what i'm trying to say to you is that there are certain legal obligations that go with the designation of a coup. >> bill: i'm sorry. introducing that wrong. what josh ernest was making the point, here's why we can't call it a coup because certain legal obligations follow with that word. yeah. i think they gotta recognize it is exactly what it is. and josh ernest is as strong as he gets basically saying to the military, please, please, please, super please, sugar please, don't do it anymore. >> you've repeatedly called on the egyptian military and security forces to show

restraint and for the government to respect the universal rights of its citizens just as we've urged protestors to demonstrate peacefully. >> bill: as if there's some moral equivalency between peaceful protestors and the military opening fire with real bullets on these people, these disdebts in egypt. i think it's time -- and that's my question to you, 1-866-55-press, i just don't think we can stand by anymore. i'm not saying send in the military but certainly we've got to admit that this is a coup and as a coup, then the military has basically taken itself out of the running for anymore u.s. aid. why should we be sending this military $1.3 billion a year, showing no respect for human rights, no respect for peaceful protests or freedom of assembly. no respect for democracy. this is not the path to

democracy in egypt. i think this is a path to more military dictatorship and denial of human rights in egypt. it is pretty clear, the whole world sees this and i believe -- to say we condemn the violence, to ask the military not to do it anymore and to send our condolences to the families of the victims, that's what we've done. is that enough? 1-866-55-press. you tell me. this is really, really troubling. really shocking. just getting worse over there. i think we've got to show some muscle and not just talk. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show."

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>> but you mentioned great leadership so i want to talk about donald rumsfeld. >> (laughter) >> cutting throught the clutter of today's top stories. >> this is the savior of the republican party? i mean really? >> ... with a unique perspective. >> teddy rosevelt was a weak asmatic kid who never played sports until he was a grown up. >> (laughter) >> ... and lots of fancy buzz words. >> family values, speding, liberty, economic freedom, hard-working moms, crushing debt, cute little puppies. if wayne lapierre can make up stuff that sounds logical while making no sense... hey, so can i. once again friends, this is live tv and sometimes these things happen. >> watch the show. >> only on current tv.

>> bill: 26 minutes after the hour on this big day, thursday, august 15. our last day on current tv. those of you watching on current. thank you for being with us all this time. but those of you listening on the radio, we continue, continue on all of our great affiliates including wpwc a.m. right here in washington, d.c. we act radio and wpl a.m. down in daytona beach, florida. good to have you all of you with us here in the nation's capital and i do -- daytona beach, florida. hang in there. we'll continue to be with you all the way through. >> we'll be online at tawkr.tv.

we've got this one comment on twitter where, of course, we'll continue tweeting all throughout our transition at bpshow. casey says bill, this is great news. i'm on the other side politically but we need more accomplished people like you who know the issues. he's happy to hear he can still watch the show. >> bill: that's very nice of him. joan calling from virginia. >> caller: good morning. i just wanted to comment that each is following the same revolutionary pattern that most dictatorships follow which is the overthrow, eventually chaos and eventually a military dictatorship then who knows. >> bill: it looks like it is going that way, right? >> i think they all do. then -- maybe, except the american revolution, perhaps. >> bill: right. >> caller: then you know, what we should do, no. we should not at all involved. look what being involved has

gotten us, nowhere. >> bill: i simply wouldn't suggest sending in the marines or the military or invading the country. the in terms of continuing to prop up the egyptian military to the town of $1.2 billion a year, that sends the message anything goes. i think history is repeating itself. allen is in chicago with a comment. hey, alan. >> caller: the comment is we're all falling victim to our own short news cycles. as i recall, just prior to all of this, there were big, huge demonstrations in the streets because morsi was acting somewhat like a dictator and doing a lot of things that he had promised -- not promised. he was just taking on kind of a dictatorial position. it is much more complicated than i think we have any insight into. >> bill: you're right, allen. the one difference is morsi was not shooting protestors in the

streets. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show."

>> announcer: starting live on free speech tv on september 3rd. learn more on billpressshow.com. this is the "bill press show." >> bill: how about it. 33 minutes after the hour now. here we go. it is the "full court press" on a thursday. thursday, august 15. hello, hello, hello. and welcome. we're coming to you live from our nation's capital and brought to you today by the international brotherhood of teamsters. good men and women of the teamsters union under president jim hoffa. we live better because of their good work. you can find out more about what

they're up to. the teamsters involved in a lot of different aspects of our economy. check out their web site at teamster.org. you know, our last day on current tv, we want to reach out and bring you some of our best friends and our best-look friends here. have their best and last chance to be on current tv as well as our radio station. brad wood house is one of them. former communications director of the dnc. now he's the president of americans united for change. mr. president, nice to see you. >> thank you so much. >> bill: tell us about americans united for change. >> well, folks may remember, may not, george bush back about eight years ago tried to privatize social security. there was an organization started to defeat that. as americans united to protect social security at the time. and it morphed into americans united for change. i ran it before i went to the

dnc and then they gave me the opportunity to come back and we're fighting the progressive cause. every single big issue that democrats and progressives are pursuing this summer, this fall, this term of congress, we're involved in. >> bill: i know one of them has been -- is obamacare. >> absolutely. >> bill: the republicans, first of all voted 40 times in the thousands repeal it. now the big move led by nut jobs ted cruz in the senate -- >> you said it, not me. i would have. >> bill: and tom mcclintock who i know is a certifiable nut job from california. in the house, they're saying -- in fact, we've got mcclintock at a town hall meeting, dan. i think it was yesterday in california. but he says the argument they're making now is unless we defund obamacare, we're going to shut down the government. here's mcclintock.

>> house leadership, i will catch a lot of slack on the appropriations bill. they have to be reconciled in the senate. this is a compromising process. how can you slack on those? but i'm not going to vote for anymore continuing resolutions. i'll make one exception to that. that is if we can get a provision in the continuing resolution of defunds obamacare this year -- >> bill: you know, with all of the good that is happening and people are benefitting for obamacare, what is his passion for killing it and defunding it? >> you know, i was on another program yesterday. i said i think it is obama derangement syndrome. these people hate anything obama. especially the tea party. we know john boehner has seeded his speakership. the man could just not show up some days. to the tea party caucus. whatever they want. , goes.

that's why they voted 40 times to repeal obamacare. not one time, bill, to replace it. not one time to create jobs, not one time to deal with some of the president's jobs proposals, not one time to build bridges or roads. they can't even get transportation bill, appropriations bill to the floor in the house because they're so radical over there. so look, i'll say this. have at it. we've done some polling with seiu. the people that are working on this. every single time they talk about repeal, every time they bring repeal vote to the floor without anything to replace it, every time they talk about the fund, obamacare gets more popular. you know what? do it. when heritage action, jim demint's group came out and said we're going to do town halls all around the country, we're going to rally for defunding obamacare or shutting down the government. i sent out an e-mail, i said bring it on! the american people are getting the benefits.

more and more will start receiving the benefits october 1st. january 1st. and they're on the wrong side of history here. the american people want something done. look, obamacare as a proposition, yes or no, is about a 50/50 proposition. all of those internal things, all of the things that are doing to benefit the american people. getting coverage even if you had a pre-existing condition. getting coverage on your parent's policies, getting cheaper prescription drugs, the american people like that stuff. you go ahead and talk about taking it away. >> bill: so the president at his news conference friday. and i was there. he pointed out republicans -- it used to be, repeal and replace. they didn't say the replace anymore. >> they had repeal and replace for about a day. and then i think john boehner and the republicans realize that there's nothing that they could do to replace obamacare that one, would fix the problem.

two, that would satisfy the insurance companies which are lining their pockets and that three, the tea party would go along with. now, all they have is just take obamacare away. which is really a political argument. obamacare is reducing the deficit. it is going to make people healthier, it is going to create jobs. it is going to help small businesses be competitive. on the world stage because they're going to be able to provide health insurance to their employees. and republicans want to take it away. i think more than anything out of their zeal and hatred for obama, we've said it a thousand times, this plan that was passed is not the plan that most progressives would have embraced wholeheartedly. >> bill: right. >> it was a plan that heritage put on the table in the 1990s to defeat hillary clinton and bill clinton's efforts to pass a more robust public plan for healthcare reform and now, it was obviously what romney passed

in massachusetts. so what explains their opposition to it? obama. >> bill: the president pointed out as you -- so the people who -- obamacare, it will expand, i guess, starting october 1 genuinely but you can buy into the health exchanges starting october 1, right? >> that's right. >> bill: so there will be some 30 million more people who could be covered. >> that's right. >> bill: and so the g.o.p. passion it seems to be or their mission is to prevent those 30 million americans from getting health insurance. now, how is that -- i don't understand how that's a message you can go out and sell, you know. this is what i'm doing for you. i'm preventing you from getting -- from buying your own health insurance. >> look, this is -- >> bill: at lower premiums than you could ever get it before. >> lower premiums in california, new york. we're creating more competition in the marketplace. interesting thing.

that's what republicans have talked about for years. hey, let's create competition in the marketplace. that's what this does. and look, how do you explain it? i guess maybe all of the gerrymander districts in the house and then in those districts, the most right wing republicans that have ever served in the congress are looking over their shoulder at people who are more right wing than them that may actually, god forbid, run against them in a primary. and in those -- many of those are people who just don't like this president for whatever reason because he's a democrat or whatever else because they don't believe he was born here or they think he's a muslim or whatever their crazy reasons are. and look, some of these people, bill, are saying you know what? not only do i want to defund it and repeal it, they know that's a lost cause. they don't have the votes to repeal it. the president won't sign a bill to repeal his own law. they won't help their constituents get access to it. it is unbelievable. one thing we found in our

polling is that really hurts the republican party. i'll tell you one thing, we're going to send people into offices and say i want some help signing up for obamacare. if they don't help, we're going to hold them out. we're going to hold them up and say that's not what you're elected to do. some of the people don't like social security but they still help their constituents get their social security checks if they're late or stuck in the mail or whatever else. they've got to do the same for obamacare. >> bill: the other thing i find very interesting, this threat to shut down the government. voices like karl rove and some others who are saying to the party, in fact, i think newt gingrich said this, did shut down the government. you know, you guys ought to really think this through, you know. and crazies again. are not listening to the wiser heads in their own party. >> it is a shooting war and look -- >> bill: john mccain said it. >> john mccain has said it is crazy. richard burr, you know, who is no one's progressive republican

has said that it's crazy and there's really a shooting war going on between republicans over the strategy. in fact, there are three camps. they can't even -- this is one of the things benefitting, there's no doubt that democrats are winning. republicans are getting killed. they don't have a strategy on obamacare. they have delayers, the defunders and the repealers. three different camps. last week, probably not going to repeal it and probably not going to defund it. let's delay it all. as another way of a political bludgeon against the president. and then they're getting creamed in town hall meetings on immigration from our side. and you know, look, if you can't get republicans to come with you to see reason and evidence and intelligence, then you know what? have them fighting with each other. that's the next best thing. >> bill: brad woodhouse. join the conversation here at 1-866-55-press.

republican disarray. i love that. three camps. arguing among themselveses about obamacare. delay, defund or repeal. republicans are saying get off that and be for something rather than against everything. it is the "full court press." thursday morning, august 15. >> follow us on twitter at bpshow. this is the "bill press show."

(cenk) it's go time! it's go time! it's go time! go time. you know what time it is. go time! it's go time. it's go time. what time is it rob? here comes the young turks go time! it's go time. oh is it? oh, then it's go time.

anybody? anybody? what time is it? oh, right. it's go time! (vo) she gets the comedians laughing and the thinkers thinking. >>ok, so there's wiggle room in the ten commandments, that's what you're saying. (vo) she's joy behar. >>current will let me say anything. >> announcer: live on free speech tv beginning september 23rd, visit freespeech.org to learn more. this is the "bill press show." >> bill: 13 minutes before the top of the hour. brad woodhouse, president of

americans united for change, it is americans united for change.org is how you keep up with all of the good stuff that they're doing and the progressive agenda around the country. back to brad and your comments and your calls in just a second. meanwhile, here on the question of identity theft, always looking for articles in the news which remind us how widespread it is. this is the news out of kentucky. chalk one up for the good guys, i guess. the long arm of the law has caught up with another person guilty of identity theft. she's a kentucky woman admitted to stealing somebody else's identity to buy a car sentenced to 39 months in federal prison. that risk of identity theft is everywhere unless you're protected against it as i am with lifelock ultimate. the most comprehensive i.d. theft protection available. even monitors your bank accounts from takeover fraud. but of course, lifelock services can't protect you or

your bank account if you're not a member. visit lifelock.com or call and mention press 10 and you'll get 10% off your lifelock ultimate membership. call 1-800-356-5967 for lifelock ultimate. and brad, our last day on current tv, we've been reminding everybody we are a radio show. we start as a radio show. we continue as a radio show. and our lifeblood really are the great affiliates around the country. >> that's why i'm here. i have a phrase made for radio. >> how do you think i got into this business? >> bill: we want to salute all of our affiliates today. let's say hello to wzlo up in bangor, maine. appreciate hearing from them. and especially one of the most powerful and i think the best progressive radio stations in

the entire country is wwkb up in buffalo. >> yeah, man. >> bill: haven't been there for awhile. we gotta go back to buffalo. >> let's get back to buffalo. >> affiliate tour. >> bill: wwkb, it is a signal, one of the strongest signals, you can hear it in washington, d.c. until a certain hour of the morning. an shootly. >> if we're going to go to buffalo, we have to figure that out pretty soon because winter is coming. >> winter is probably in buffalo. >> bill: all of our good people up on the frontier in the buffalo area salute and thank you. peter? >> on that note, by the way, we're still tweeting, we're always tweeting at bpshow at bpshow. we'll be on freespeech tv. we'll be on tawkr.tv. comment from black cat, one of our good friends, my favorite news show, this is where i first learned how to tweet. don't worry, bill, i know where you're going. i'll find you.

all of my best. >> he learned that from bill? >> signed up to tweet with us. on the show. >> that's great. >> we're leading the revolution. >> and on obamacare, aria says i guess calling it obamacare sounds more evil to the republicans than actually calling it the affordable care act which is the actual name. >> bill: it has kind of backfired because they started calling it obamacare prejudicially or whatever but the president adopted it. he said yeah, you can call it obamacare. >> obama cares. >> here's the thing. it is an interesting story. back when i was at the dnc, one of the first -- when tim kaine was there, he was passionate about that. he said you know what? let's call it obamacare and they didn't make the pivot at the time. he's like let's call it obamacare because obama does care. it is perfect because ten years from now, this thing is going to have 70% support and the

republicans will start calling it the affordable care act. because they don't want -- oh, god. they don't want it to be associated with the democratic party to that point. >> bill: on this -- threatening to shut down the government of obamacare, you've seen some polls on it. the american people -- what do they feel about -- let's say they do shut the government down, who gets the blame? >> look, we've been here. we've seen this before. without question, the republicans get the blame. first of all, they don't have a strategy for even talking about it. they're fighting with one another. you know, some of their older time leaders like john mccain are saying that the notion is absolutely crazy. that it will hurt the republican party. it will cost them -- it will cost them the house. some of the conservative commentators out there are even saying the same thing. former republican consultants

like karl rove are saying the same thing. one, they're not speaking with the same voice. that means that the president, the bully pulpit that he has, will eviscerate them. now, look, i don't want the government to shut down because it will hurt people. it will hurt our economy. it will cost us jobs. it will inconvenience the american people. now, you could just -- you know, you could just be kind of a cold-hearted political strategist and say go do it. because it will further erode the support that you have. you're already -- independents are leaving you in droves. hispanics don't want to have anything to do with you. single women don't want to have anything to do with you. blacks won't have anything to do with you since you started trying to restrict their voting rights and so forth. have at it if that's what you want. that's not what we want. we're happy to have this battle and talk about it. it is strengthening obamacare every day that they talk about repeal or defund but shutting the government down has to be the most irresponsible thing that anybody elected to public

office could ever entertain. it is ludicrous. >> bill: the field troops for the progressive agenda around the country, americans united for change, they've got a great new president. brad woodhouse. follow their good work. join the forces, right? war -- we're in ten states right now. we're going to follow heritage around the country and say bring it on. >> bill: check them out at americans united for change.org. thanks, brad. >> thank you. >> announcer: the "bill press show" is joining free speech tv starting september 3rd. find out how to watch at billpress show.com.

criticizing, and holding policy to the fire. are you encouraged by what you heard the president say the other night? is this personal, or is it political? a lot of my work happens by doing the things that i'm given to doing anyway, by staying in touch with everything that is going on politically and putting my own nuance on it. in reality it's not like they actually care. this is purely about political grandstanding. i've worn lots of hats, but i've always kept this going. i've been doing politics now for a dozen years. (vo) he's been called the epic politics man. he's michael shure and his arena is the war room. >> these republicans in congress that think the world ends at the atlantic ocean border and pacific ocean border. the bloggers and the people that are sort of compiling the best of the day. i do a lot of looking at those people as well. not only does senator rubio just care about rich people, but somehow he thinks raising the minimum wage is a bad idea for the middle class. but we do

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>> announcer: taking your e-mails on any topic at any time, this is the "bill press show." live on your radio and current tv. >> bill: all right. here we go. epic day here with the last day of current which is generating a lot of comments. susan ward says oh, no, don't go. just like every other man in my life. as soon as i get to trusting your opinion, you walk right out of my life. >> oh, no. >> bill: susan, we're going to stay in your life. remember, on the radio. on directv. dish network. and on tawkr.tv. matthew says hey, bill -- oh, my god, i'm going to blush here. you're the sanest voice in the media. best of luck in your new venue. he's a fellow -- lives there.

[ ♪ theme ] >> bill: hey, good morning, good morning and hello and welcome to the "full court press." on this thursday, august 15. we're coming to you live from our nation's capital. bringing you the news of the day and getting your comments. we hope. love to hear from you at 1-866-55-press. that's our toll free number. give us a call and tell us what the news means to you. we'll let you hear what's going on today. you can join us on twitter. we love to get your comments on

twitter at bpshow and on facebook at facebook.com/billpressshow. well, let's look around up in martha's vineyard. the sun came out again yesterday and the president was back on the golf course. his third round of golf so far on the vacation. then he went out for cocktails at a friend's house and he and the first lady and some friends went out to dinner and boy, they close the place down, i guess. they left the restaurant at 11:30 last night. today, maybe he'll finally get in some beach time. you can't go to martha's vineyard without going to the beach. come on. back here in d.c., having voted 40 times to repeal obamacare, republicans now are led by nut jobs ted cruz in the senate and tom mcclintock in the house. now they're saying we are going to defund obamacare and if we can't defund obamacare, we're going to shut down the u.s.

government. yeah. that worked so well the last time, ask newt gingrich. find out all about that and more when current tv continues.

if you believe in state's rights but still support the drug war you must be high. >> "viewpoint" digs deep into the issues of the day. >> do you think there is any chance we'll ever hear the president even say the word "carbon tax"? >> with an opened mind... >> has the time finally come for real immigration reform? >> ...and a distinctly satirical point of view. >> but you mentioned great leadership so i want to talk about donald rumsfeld. >> (laughter) >> cutting throught the clutter of today's top stories. >> this is the savior of the republican party? i mean really? >> ... with a unique perspective. >> teddy rosevelt was a weak asmatic kid who never played sports until he was a grown up. >> (laughter)

>> family values, speding, liberty, economic freedom, hard-working moms, crushing debt, cute little puppies. if wayne lapierre can make up stuff that sounds logical while making no sense... hey, so can i. once again friends, this is live tv and sometimes these things happen. >> watch the show. >> only on current tv. we have a big big hour and the iq will go way up. (vo) current tv gets the converstion started weekdays at 9am eastern. >> i'm a slutty bob hope. >> you are. >> the troops love me. (vo) tv and radio talk show host stephanie miller rounds out current's morning news block. >> you're welcome current tv audience for the visual candy. just be grateful current tv does not come in smellivision. the sweatshirt is nice and all, but i could use a golden lasso. (vo) only on current tv. i think the number one thing that viewers like about the young turks is that we're honest. they can

i think that the audience gets that this guy, to the best of his ability, is trying to look out for us. nounce broadcasting across the nation on your radio and on current tv, this is the "bill press show." >> bill: murder and mayhem in egypt and all the united states does is say hey, please, please, please, latest count, 525 people killed by the military yesterday. and the official response of the united states government is please don't do that anymore. but we'll still send you money. good morning, everybody. what do you say? it is thursday, august 15. and this is the "full court press."

we're coming to you live from our nation's capital, our studio on capitol hill, washington, d.c. on your local progressive talk radio station and this last day on current tv. good to have you with us. and thank you for joining us. we look forward not only to bringing you up to date on the news of the day but, of course, hearing what it all means to you. by phone at 1-866-55-press. on twitter at bpshow and on facebook at facebook.com/billpressshow. team press here. everybody came in for the last day on current tv. peter ogborn and dan henning are here. >> hey, hey, hey. >> good morning. >> we thought about ducking out and not showing up. >> bill: get your face on television one last time. >> sure. >> bill: alichia cruz has the phones covered. cyprian bowlding here keeping us looking good on the video cams.

we wanted to bring in the last day, some of our best guests, most intelligent guests and best friend, sabrina siddiqui among those numbers. she's a reporter for all political things, particularly on the congress for "huffington post." nice to see you. >> thank you for having me on your big day. >> bill: how about it. when you write your memoirs, you'll say i was on "full court press" -- >> when they burned their set to the ground on the last day. >> bill: in the last hour, we'll take the sledgehammer and knock everything down. >> why the hell not. >> bill: right. there is a little political activity as we know. had a primary in new jersey this week. and the mayor's race up in new york. which is getting all the attention, particularly because of one candidate. conan o'brien last night has --

his chance to chime in on now the man who is in fourth place in new york. anthony weiner. >> according to a new poll, over 50% of new yorkers say they won't vote for anthony weiner no matter what. the other 50% said they're going to wait until they see all of the other candidate's penises. it is called comparison shopping. >> bill: you know, just when you think you've heard every last anthony weiner joke -- >> there's no such thing as the last anthony weiner joke is what i've learned. or puns as we've learned in our writing. >> bill: i know. you've got to be very careful. talking about -- even talking about it, right. when i said the other day, it looked to me like anthony weiner -- there was no way anthony weiner was going to pull out of the race. i did not -- i did not intend that in any way. you gotta be very, very careful.

weigh every word when it comes to weiner time. anyhow, we'll get into the more serious issues. >> terrible. >> bill: don't ask. first, dan's got the headlines of the day. >> other headlines making news on this thursday. another high profile athlete is saying now is the time for an openly gay nfl player. robert grissom iii of washington's team tells "gq" magazine he think there are gay players in the league right now and the window for them to come out is wide open. he is, himself, a christian and says that god looks at all of us in the same way. >> good for him. he could also speak out on the fact that he plays on a team called the redskins. update the name. >> ron burgundy is writing a memoir. the legendary anchorman from the movie starring will ferrell is

writing a tell-all called let me off of the top, my classy life. no word on if will ferrell is writing the book but mr. burgundy is saying i don't know if it is the greatest autobiography ever written. i'm too close to the work. look for it in november and the next anchorman movie comes out right after that in december. >> bill: this is a p.r. ploy. >> come on. >> i'm excited for the movie. i don't know if i would ever read that. >> no way i would read that. >> a shocker in the tennis world yesterday. this year's wimbledon champion announced her retirement. just two months after her major win, marion bartoli called it quits saying her body can't take the pain anymore. wimbledon was the 28-year-old's only grand slam victory in 47 attempts. >> once you hit 2, it is all downhill after that. >> retiring at 28.

>> bill: she'll be doing a lot of tennis coaching. sabrina, with the congress out of town, what are they doing? are they working, some of them or just traveling or kicking back at the beach or what do you hear? >> a lot of fund-raising, of course. then there are town halls where they get the chance to meet with constituents and really, i think, try and bolster what they've been doing or not doing in some cases. you know, immigration is, of course, a big theme. you're seeing a couple of republicans -- >> bill: so town halls are being held. >> the town halls are being held. >> bill: in some districts, right? >> in some districts. i don't think we're getting as much video as you sometimes get out of them like truly exciting. >> bill: they don't seem to be as controversial or as explosive as they were a couple of years ago. >> they haven't really been -- you know, it also could be more so some of the protests you

might see on the outside. there have been a lot of immigration reform advocates who have set up camp at the town halls of a number of republicans. they had a list of about 121 house republicans they wanted to target during the august recess. they're doing that and there are a few constituents who favor, for example, pathway to citizenship trying to get the lawmakers to change their mind but then there are people who are opposed, certainly, you know, one particular congressman from oklahoma, congressman langford was pressured by his constituents not to support the senate bill. you're hearing a lot about nsa surveillance. there was one or two, i think moments of heated exchanges that were made public, basically americans saying you know, what are you doing to stop the government from snooping on our phone records and electronic communications. but a big thing is, these republicans continuing with their threat to shut down the government if obamacare is not left unfunded which, given the criticism, gained from its own senior colleagues and unlikely

scenario that leadership in both chambers would support that plan, it is interesting to see these -- this group of conservative lawmakers taking that last stand, kind of really trying to show their supporters, their unwavering commitment to get rid of the law even if it takes shutting down the government. >> bill: one such -- before i get to that, it seems to me that the lack of press attention and the lack of real -- almost revolutionary tactics that these town hall meetings this summer -- really reflects that you don't have the organizational support which was stirring or fanning the flames like last time. like americans for prosperity and freedom works, right, really organizing, telling people, here are the town hall meetings, go out there. here's what you do. here's the issue, raise hell,

raise hell, raise hell. there is not that kind of organized movement this summer. >> i don't see much on either side. you have a couple of groups who support the defund obamacare. >> bill: and the pro immigration reform. >> and the pro-immigration reform. again, you see more on the outside through press releases and other small forums. some degree of support. certainly not what -- like you said, fanning the flames of the town halls. but through releases and ads, they do pressure lawmakers to show up at the town halls, sometimes and say things, make promises. >> bill: i talked about the conversation and we have -- some more and more extreme voices saying well, we weren't able to repeal obamacare so now they're going to need us on this budget and our price is going to be to totally defund obama will of care. here is -- we've heard that from ted cruz in the senate. this is tom mcclintock in the

house. tom mcclintock from california at a town hall meeting yesterday >> i will catch a lot of flak on the appropriations bills. i understand they have to be reconciled in the senate. this is a compromising process. how can you slack on those? but i am not going to vote for anymore continuing rollses to kick that can down the road. now, i'll make one exception to that. that is if we can get a provision in that defunds obamacare this year. >> bill: defund obamacare. it seems to me it is delusional. do they really think they're going to defund it in a package that president obama will sign to undo his signature legislative achievement? >> i don't think any of the lawmakers truly believe that this will become a reality. they know. they might be -- delusional to

suggest that this is an option but they know that let alone the president having to sign into law, there is no way a democratic-controlled senate would allow this to happen. there's no vote to pass a continuing resolution that would defund obamacare in the senate and a lot of the moderate or emerging moderate republicans have also opposed that effort. everyone from mccain and lindsey graham, the usual suspects trying to work with the other side, even senator tom coburn, one of the biggest anti-obama there is. throwing cold water on the idea. this helps a lot with fund-raising. these headlines and these sound bytes make a lot of the lawmakers who are, of course, facing re-election every two years, gets them a lot of money. it gets them a lot of support. excites their base. and you know, they're probably thinking a little more about turnout. what they're missing, if they are looking at 2014 in particular where they can run ads and say did i everything i could and fend off any primary

challenges, what they're missing from that approach is if we do have the scenario where there is a government shutdown or defaulting on our debt because they can't reach an agreement, they'll be the ones who will pay the political price because american people will associate a shutdown with republicans, so would they associate defaulting on the country's debt with republicans because they'll know that this was about trying to deliver a major blow to the president's signature, policy achievement which is law whether they like it or not. and he would not offer any concession on that law certainly in exchange for a mandatory fiscal deadline. >> bill: where is mitch mcconnell on all of this? you're right. even tom coburn, john mccain, lindsey graham, have said hey, wait a minute. let's cool our jets here on this issue, right? this will be colossally stupid. where's mcconnell? >> he, for the first time, sort of expressed hesitation but you know, being up for re-election and facing this primary

challenge where his challenger has actually called on him to support this coalition of tea party-backed lawmakers in this government shutdown threat, what he just told individuals at a kentucky forum on healthcare was that shutting down the government will not shut down obamacare. it is not going to stop obamacare. that's the most you'll get out of him for now until they return, of course, to capitol hill and have negotiations privately where he could say whatever he wants behind closed doors. i certainly don't see a scenario where he follows through with this idea. this proposal. he has, as we remember, helped broker a lot of deals behind the scenes. fiscal cliff deal essentially came down to him and vice president joe biden which may have cost him certainly up for re-election. he knows that he can't have his fingerprints on a government shutdown. >> bill: "huffington post" sabrina siddiqui in studio with us talking about -- to the extent there's any activity out of congress, it is happening at

the town hall level where they're getting pressure on immigration reform from the left and on the right on obamacare and shutting down the government. your thoughts and your comments welcome at 1-866-55-press. we'll be right back. >> announcer: starting live on free speech tv on september 3rd, learn more at billpressshow.com. this is the "bill press show."

>> did anyone tell the pilgrims they should self-deport? >> no, they said "make us a turkey and make it fast". >> (laughter). >> she gets the comedians laughing. >> that's the best! >> that's hilarious. >> ... and the thinkers thinking. >> okay, so there is wiggle room in the ten commandments is what you're telling me. >> she's joy behar. >> ya, i consider you jew-talian. >> okay, whatever you want. >> who plays kafka? >> who saw kafka? >> who ever saw kafka? >> (laughter). >> asking the tough questions. >> chris brown, i mean you wouldn't let one of your daughters go out with him. >> absolutely not. >> you would rather deal with ahmadinejad then me? >> absolutely! >> (singing) >> i take lipitor, thats it.

>> are you improving your lips? >> (laughter). >> when she's talking, you never know where the conversation is going to go. >> it looks like anthony wiener is throwing his hat in the ring. >> his what in the ring? >> his hat. >> always outspoken, joy behar. >> and the best part is that current will let me say anything. what the hell were they thinking? >> only on current tv. >> bill: here we go. 24 minutes after the hour. yes, indeed.

the "full court press" coming to you live from our nation's capital and your local progressive talk radio station and this last day on current tv. but again, we want to remind you we are a first and foremost, a radio show and have been and will continue to be on all of our local progressive talk radio stations. it just so happened that for a year and a half we were carried on current tv. when that goes away, nothing changes on the radio front. still coming out to you on our great local affiliates, we want to salute you all and let's say hello to all of our good friends, for example at kkzn in denver. denver, boulder, colorado. great market. great people out there. love going out there. and also out in albuquerque and santa fe. little trio station in albuquerque, santa fe and taos, new mexico. kabq, ktrc and ktot. hello and thank you!

so, we're still, after today, still be on the radio as of september 3rd, we'll be bouncing back on a different tv opportunity. on television, you can -- you will be able to find us on the dish network and on directv if you have a satellite dish. and if not -- >> on free speech tv. that's the channel you're looking for. free speech tv. >> bill: free speech tv. and on your computer online, you can watch us at a whole new channel, very, very exciting, we'll be part of it called tawkr.tv. by the way, with that, you cannot only live stream the show on your computer or you can go back and later in the afternoon and watch the show. it will be -- >> full show plus we'll have snippets from the show. you can pick and choose what you want to watch. in studio with us from

"huffington post," sabrina siddiqui up to date on what the agenda and what the prospects look like for congress. sabrina, when they come back from this extended break, right, they've got a lot on their plate. >> idaho have a lot. they have very little time to do it. we talked before the break about the continuing resolution to keep the government funded beyond september 30th. >> bill: that comes up. >> no more than i think between one and two months after that, they do reach the debt ceiling limit. again. they have immigration reform. the house is feeling a lot of pressure to do something and they will have to pass either their own version of a bill which they have a couple that they're weighing or go to conference and hash out differences of the senate bill and produce something. they don't want anything comprehensive. >> bill: minimum wage is still out there. >> minimum wage is still out there. >> bill: how about the food stamps and the ag bill?

>> farm bill. still out there. there is a lot that we've put off. again, because of -- i think, the same old conflict within the republican party between the two wings, especially among house republicans who have been unable to coalesce around any major piece of legislation. that remains a problem. and then, of course, this all has to happen before the holidays, before they leave again. for a few weeks. so there is very little time, i think to get any of this done. we'll see. i think it will be a circus. and it will be i think a lot of battles to come. i just don't see any sort of compromise or you know, willingness to work across the aisle at this moment. especially on the part. >> bill: especially in the house. it looks like the senate -- several issues. we've got to close here but the senate kind of getting its stuff together. the house still accomplishing nothing.

sabrina siddiqui, great to see you. "huffington post." >> announcer: this is the "bill press show."

>> bill: great to have you with us today as we come to you live from washington, d.c. brought to you today by the international association of machinists, good men and women of the machinist's union. under president tom buffenbarger, sharpening america's em on the global

economy. you can find out more about their good work at goiam.org. all things media, we wanted to talk about in this half hour. joining us from politico. the deputy -- i'm going to call her that, media reporter for politico. working with dylan byers, mckenzie winger. nice to have you. >> thanks for having me. >> bill: thanks for coming in. we're making media news today because our last day on current tv and we want to be sure to remind everybody that while we may be leaving current tv, we're not leaving you because we were with you before current, on the radio. we'll continue after current on the radio. all of our great of a igiates -- affiliates around the country. time to say hello to ktlk out in los angeles, california. where i started my media career. and so still enabling me to

continue to be present in southern california out there. hello to all of our good friends out in l.a. and while we're there on the west coast, san francisco, california, as well. early in the morning on the west coast but lots of people joining us. thinkers and drinkser at ktla in l.a. and san francisco. so, thank you all for being there. remember, we'll be back up on tv on september 3rd, on free speech tv. which you can find on directv or the dish network and we'll also be online. you can stream the show online at a new channel called talker talker -- called tawkr.tv. >> check it out. >> bill: right. all right. so, mckenzie, where do we start? donald trump.

>> where else? >> bill: where else. why does the media take it so seriously when he says i'm thinking of running for president and i'm going to spend every last dollar that i have. >> there are a few reasons for that. i guess i'll start off with the most obvious and that it giving you page views. >> bill: does it? >> it absolutely does. yesterday, huge news happening, egypt. tons of stuff going on. the number one story on the politico web site was about donald trump and the media. >> shame on you, america! shame on you. >> bill: get out! >> there is that cycle. you can say the media is covering it and keeping it going. but people really are interested in it. that is something that drives page views and people who watch clips online, on tv. and it really generates a lot of comments. people love to talk about donald trump. he's one of the figures where

you've already decided how you stand on him and i think that's why a lot of people will read an article no matter what because they either want to be able to be at the water cooler and defend him or be at the water cooler and say this is a really dumb thing that he said. he's kind of that perfect figure for conversation and almost like a political animal figure. are people taking him seriously? not everyone. that's kind of the role of the media to say in the stories, in those news clips, you know, here's what actually happened last time. maybe let's look at this a little more clearly. there's a reason. >> bill: my real question is do offices still have water coolers? >> that's a great question. and i will -- >> bill: i hear that phrase all the time. dan uses it when he gives the "full court press." things to talk about around the water cooler. >> where do i get my water? >> bill: i think water cooler? this is like model t ford.

>> we're going old school on politico. >> bill: do you have one at politico? >> how else are we supposed to drink our water? >> bill: you gather around it? >> that might not be true. [ laughter ] >> bill: i guess anthony weiner would fall into the same category, right? gets a lot of page views so therefore -- >> doesn't generate as many as trump though. >> bill: oh, don't tell him that. what do you have to do? >> he's tried everything. that's right. i just don't understand. as a member of the white house press corps, i must admit i was amused -- so they showed president obama goes out golfing, a couple of days ago and normally, we get no access at all to the golf game. you don't even see him get in the car, out of the car, let alone on the course, right? but because we've raised so much hell about that, they finally

opened up and let the pool watch the president and his party on the green, on the first hole. the first green. and there was that funny picture of obama doing the body english which all of us golfers do, right? trying to get the ball in the hole by the way -- the gestures you make. and lo and behold, greta van susteren blasts the white house for letting a photo of president obama come out on the golf course. isn't this sort of contradictory to the media's been telling the white house? >> well, if we look back at last year, a lot of people thought also the white house press corps was kind of making a kerfuffle about something, a little ridiculous in choosing to make a stand over golf. and so this, in a way is, you know, placating that and then you've got the same thing. why let the picture out. it is really a no-win and then you look at the other things happening on this trip like last

night, who was obama and the family having dinner with until 11:30. that's information that is also not coming out. so it is always this push and pull with them and what they're going to release and what's more important, the photo? great photo, well-used across the internet, generated a lot of discussion but what's really going to tell us more about the president and what he's doing right now? >> bill: it was really funny is that it was ed henry from fox news then our president of the white house correspondents' association who led the charge saying wait a minute, the president's playing golf with tiger woods. we never get to see him play golf. we never -- so we want access to him on the golf course. ed henry from fox news, we get access to him on the golf course at martha's vineyard and then greta van susteren from fox news says the white house should not be putting out pictures of the president on the golf course. get your story right.

>> they have different reporters, journalists, pundits. greta has her blog and henry had his post as president. so they're just using that and kind of just -- a slower "newsweek" in the white house press. >> bill: speaking of massive news operations, next tuesday, current tv is gone as of today. next tuesday, people who bought current tv, al jazeera america launch their new channel. they came out yesterday with their new line-up. you've taken a look at it. what do you think about it? and what's it look like? >> well, i mean the question with this is who is this geared toward? who is actually going to watch this? and why would you tune in? right now, i think media on or abouts are saying this could be interesting, those of us who cover the media. they've put together interesting figures, you know, journalists from msnbc, cnn -- old school

journalists. >> bill: they've hired some good people. >> they've hired some interesting people. >> bill: ali velshi from cnn. >> soledad o'brien. >> bill: is great. joey chen is great. >> it is with that, you're thinking what does that all mean put together? it is a little hard to see. >> bill: what's it going to look like, the new channel, do you know? >> well, actually, you get to find out tomorrow if you're a media reporter in new york or d.c. to check out the studio so we'll see where they put a lot of money. but right now, it looks like -- >> bill: tomorrow, friday. >> they're opening up for media people to check it out and see ground work that they've laid. >> bill: what will viewers see? >> exactly. right now, it looks like they're trying to go that cnn-type route like we're going to go international news, down the line. and they're trying not to be an

al jazeera english because that didn't go so well for them. in fact, you won't be able to see al jazeera english in the u.s. anymore once al jazeera america goes live. they're trying to attract kind of a viewer who is interested in international news and wants to get, you know, the kind of broadview, not exactly punditry at night. >> bill: can i ask the politically incorrect question -- >> certainly. >> is it going to stop you? >> bill: what the hell, they didn't hire me so i can ask any question i want. do you think that most americans across the land here will watch a channel called al jazeera? >> right now? >> bill: america. >> it is really unclear. honestly, they're only on 48 million -- they're only in 48 million homes. >> bill: that's a lot though. >> but they're missing time-warner cable. a lot of the bigger names. you know, is somebody going to

go seek out the channel on the dial? current tv didn't have a great dial position in a lot of places and neither will al jazeera. >> bill: it will be worse. >> it won't be easy to find. as a viewer, will have to seek t out. i haven't seen numbers to indicate the level of interest. people seem generally interested in the idea of the channel but will it translate into viewers? unclear. at this point, it doesn't seem like that's really going to matter for them though. >> bill: mckenzie winger here from politico. we're talking all of the media news of the day. and look forward to hearing from you, 1-866-55-press our toll free number here on the "full court press." >> announcer: connect with the "bill press show" on twitter. follow us at bpshow and tweet using the hashtag watching bp. this is the "bill press show."

>> if you believe in state's rights but still support the drug war you must be high. >> "viewpoint" digs deep into the issues of the day. >> do you think that there is any chance we'll see this president even say the words "carbon tax"? >> with an open mind... >> has the time finally come for real immigration reform? >> ...and a distinctly satirical point of view. >> but you mentioned "great leadership" so i want to talk about donald rumsfeld. >> (laughter). >> watch the show. >> only on current tv. (vo) current tv gets the converstion started next. >> you are. >> the troops love me. the sweatshirt is nice and all, but i could use a golden lasso. (vo) only on current tv.

>> announcer: starting live on free speech tv on september 3rd, learn more at billpressshow.com. this is the "bill press show." >> bill: all right. 12 minutes before the top of of the hour. jamal simmons, democratic strategist in as a "friend of bill" for the next hour. along with bill cirincione. we're talking all things media with mckenzie -- sorry! [ laughter ] you know -- >> how bad is that spill? >> bill: it is not too bad. i'm proud of myself -- >> don't waste that gin you just

spilled. >> bill: i'm proud of myself i spilled that and the expletive came out of my mouth was -- >> oh, my goodness. >> it has happened before where you spilled and he didn't say oh, my goodness. >> bill: where was i? >> right up after the news here -- >> bill: we're fine. thank you, alicia, thank you. nothing like live radio and television. >> gol, they'll kick us off of current after this, bill. what a disaster! >> bill: i was mentioning joe cirincione will be joining us and mckenzie is here -- we're talking all things media from politico. back to your calls, your comments in just a second. hey, an important reminder here of something that you might really -- you should seriously consider. what if you were in an accident and you were found unconscious and the emergency people showed up, couldn't communicate with you, obviously couldn't get all of the information they need to help you. one way to avoid that

possibility, god forbid, emergency link. emergency link i.d. is a small tag you attach to your key ring or you put in your wallet or purse that will tell emergency responders everything they need to know, your medical history, your meds, your allergies, doctor's contact info, most importantly, whom to notify. the little thing that can make a difference between life and death. sign up now for emergency link's response service for $10 a year. i.d. kit is free. hurry. emergencylink.com. enter press. shout out to a couple of our affiliates. we continue to be a radio show. wajd down in gainesville, florida. hello, hello. thank you for being there.

and we will continue to be your morning line-up. >> go to b pshow for the latest information. michael shure says congrats for a great run on current and looking forward to having you on the final "the war room" tonight. with michael shure. thank you for being up early and reminding us that's where we'll be at the end of the day. mckenzie, let's talk about it. we talked about what al jazeera might look like. when you write your book about the history of american television networks, what is your chapter on current tv going to say? >> a whole chapter? [ laughter ]

>> i'll consider -- >> bill: a paragraph? >> i mean i think -- i think -- current tv was an interesting experiment to watch and i've heard you say this. it didn't work. there were a lot of -- there were a lot of issues with it. people didn't seek it out and they didn't get enough people outside of a very small group to come watch it. the ratings were not -- it didn't get picked up on nielsen. that's not good for a tv network. there was a lot of money involved. there were some interesting people behind it but i don't know how we'll see the impact going on from here. it might just be looked at as kind of a failed experiment, unfortunately for those on it. >> bill: start with a great vision of being america's first really progressive, full time,

24/7 progressive television network. a vision i certainly bought into i don't think the commitment long-term was there to make it happen. it was unfortunate. but it brought in a lot of good people. >> i also think that it doesn't -- >> bill: michael shure and stephanie and go down the list. >> a lot of people will say this is a failure on progressive media and you gotta remember current has been around for a very long time. they didn't really put effort into turning it into a legitimate channel for progressives until very recently. a year and a half, two years ago. >> bill: it started when they hired keith olbermann. >> it was filled with documentaries and things like that and more recently, they put on real personalities and knew what they were talking about. >> bill: for your chapter on current tv, you could have a picture of this bumper sticker, team olbermann. on current. all right.

we will continue to -- we'll continue to make news mckenzie. you continue to cover it at politico. >> thanks a lot. >> bill: thanks for coming in. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." honest. they know that i'm not bsing them for some hidden agenda, actually supporting one party or the other. when the democrats are wrong, they know i'm going to be the first one to call them out. cenk on air>> what's unacceptable is how washington continues to screw the middle class over. cenk off air i don't want the middle class taking the brunt of the spending cuts and all the different programs that wind up hurting the middle class. cenk on air you got to go to the local level, the state level and we have to fight hard to make sure they can't buy our politics anymore. cenk off air and they can question if i'm right about that. but i think the audience gets that, i actually mean it. cenk on air 3 trillion dollars in spending cuts! narrator uniquely progressive and always topical, the worlds largest online news show is on current tv. cenk off air and i think the audience gets, "this guys to best of his

abilities is trying to look out for us." only on current tv!

you know who is coming on to me now? you know the kind of guys that do reverse mortgage commercials? those types are coming on to me all the time now. (vo) she gets the comedians laughing and the thinkers thinking. >>ok, so there's wiggle room in the ten commandments, that's what you're saying. you would rather deal with ahmadinejad than me. >>absolutely. >> and so would mitt romney. (vo) she's joy behar. >>and the best part is that current will let me say anything. what the hell were they thinking? this show is about being up to date, staying in touch with everything that is going on politically and putting my own nuance on it. in reality it's not like they

actually care. this is purely about political grandstanding. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." >> bill: here we go. president obama yesterday on martha's vineyard, a round of golf and then late night dinner with the first lady and friends. they didn't leave the restaurant until 11:30. last night. man, i gotta tell you -- >> shut it down. >> bill: good meal and lots of

after dinner drinks it sounds like to me. no word about what the president's schedule is today. not putting out the schedule. but he's on the vineyard. and vice president joe biden up in wilmington, delaware, no public events scheduled for either one. again, we want to take the opportunity here to remind you that current tv may be going away today but we continue what we've always been, your morning radio show and your local progressive talk radio station including kptr out in palm springs, california. hello, palm springs. one of my favorite places on the planet. also, kgoe up in eureka, california. great town. love going up there. and kbbr a.m., just across the border up in eugene, oregon. west coast coming through loud and clear. jamal simmons coming up as a "friend of bill" in the next hour with joe cirincione from the ploughshares fund.

[ ♪ theme ] >> bill: good thursday morning, everybody. great to see you. friends and neighbors on this thursday, august 15. how about it. it is the "full court press." right here on current tv. can you believe it? our last hour together on current tv. forever and ever before current tv goes into history books. we won't. current tv will. but we'll take advantage of this hour to bring you up to date on whatever's happening here in our nation's capital, around the

country and around the globe. we, of course, are coming to you live from our nation's capital and our studio on capitol hill in washington, d.c. this ghost town because the house still out, the senate still out of town. the vice president still out of town and the president up on martha's vineyard where yesterday, pardon me, the sun came out and the president got in a round of golf. and a cocktail party and a late dinner with the first lady last night. still hasn't been out on the beach yet. maybe he's waiting for the girls to get there to take them for their swim in the ocean. we'll keep track on the president's schedule today. back here in the district, having voted 40 times to repeal obamacare and of course, being unable to do so, house and senate republicans are now saying well, we'll take another tack, we'll defund obamacare instead of trying to repeal it and if we can't defund it, we'll just shut the government down.

yeah, this worked so well the last time. why don't they ask newt gingrich first. that and more on our next hour on current tv. a

(vo) current tv is the place for compelling true stories. (kaj) jack, how old are you? >> nine. (adam) this is what 27 tons of marijuana looks like. (vo) with award winning documentaries that take you inside the headlines. way inside. (christoff) we're patrolling the area looking for guns, drugs, bodies ... (adam) we're going to places where few others are going. [lady] you have to get out now. >> lots of terrible things happen to people growing marijuana. >> this crop to me is my livelihood. >> i'm being violated by the health care system. (christoff) we go and spend a considerable amount of time getting to know the people and the characters that are actually living these stories.

(vo) from the underworld, to the world of privilege. >> everyone in michael jackson's life was out to use him. (vo) no one brings you more documentaries that are real, gripping, current. >> occupy! >> we will have class warfare. (vo) true stories, current perspective. documentaries. on current tv. >> if you believe in state's rights but still support the drug war you must be high. >> "viewpoint" digs deep into the issues of the day. >> do you think that there is any chance we'll see this president even say the words "carbon tax"? >> with an open mind... >> has the time finally come for real immigration reform? >> ...and a distinctly satirical point of view. >> but you mentioned "great leadership" so i want to talk about donald rumsfeld. >> (laughter). >> watch the show. >> only on current tv. (vo) current tv gets the converstion started next. >> i'm a slutty bob hope. >> you are.

>> the troops love me. the sweatshirt is nice and all, but i could use a golden lasso. (vo) only on current tv. >> announcer: broadcasting across the nation on your radio and on current tv, this is the "bill press show." >> bill: the death toll in egypt now up to 525 people shot and killed, mowed down by the egyptian military yesterday. and all the united states has done is said please, please, please, don't do that again but we'll continue to send you money. good morning, everybody. what do you say? it is thursday, august 15. here we are on the "full court press," coming to you live from

our nation's capital across this great land of ours on your local progressive talk radio station and for one more hour or 54 minutes, make it, on current tv. good to have you with us and for our last hour while we're -- cobroadcast on current. we wanted to welcome two of our best friends. jamal simmons, democratic strategist and "friend of bill." the friendliest of friends of bill. hello, jamal. >> good morning. >> bill: we wanted our best looking guests in for this hour. >> i tried hard to figure out what would be an appropriate gift. i figured just getting dressed this morning was probably enough of a gift. for the show. but the best thing about going back to radio is no more suit jackets. it never stopped peter.

>> we have a gift for you, jamal. one of the original current tv bumper stickers. >> name shall not be spoken. >> it is warm in here. >> bill: the team olbermann. this is -- this has to go back. this is a piece of evidence in the lawsuit. [ laughter ] >> that's awesome. >> bill: there it is anyhow. i don't know about team olbermann but team press is here. >> for just a little while longer. >> hanging on by a thread. >> >> bill: what's current going to do? fire us? alichia cruz has the phones covered. cyprian bowlding, of course keeping us looking good on the video cam as long as we are. on the video cam. this is august in washington. something special about august

in washington. >> there's no traffic. the best part. >> bill: you guys will enjoy this. this morning in "the new york times," a story about washington, overcoming its usual summer doldrums. jennifer said the best thing -- what people don't understand, there is a real advantage to being in washington in august. no traffic. you can get a seat and table in any restaurant. >> right. >> bill: but the other thing is the produce, the tomatoes, the peaches, the corn. you know, coming from the eastern shore. it is true. best and freshest tomatoes, all of that. >> we're right in the sweet spot right now. >> bill: we really are. take advantage of it, everybody, i guess. >> exactly. so far the swamp is not acting up. the mosquitoes. >> bill: it has been a good season for mosquitoes. we've had hardly any at all. >> none.

>> bill: so don't make fun of washington right there. we want to remind you again -- >> what do you want me to tell -- the president, i'm going to math that's vineyard tomorrow. >> bill: are you playing golf? >> i'm not going to see the president. i'm just joking but i am going to martha's vineyard. i don't play golf because when i had the time, i didn't have the money and now that i have the money, i don't have the time. i've never really learned how to play golf. >> that's never stopped me or bill. >> bill: i don't have the money, don't have the time, don't have the skills but i play. anyhow. we were going to mention that we want to remind everybody don't fret too much about losing current tv because we have a radio show. we'll continue to be a radio show. and thanks to -- wouldn't be here without all of our great affiliates, want to salute a couple of our real good friends here at the top of the hour.

up in ithaca, new york, been up there several times, love going back up there to wnyy in ithaca. all of our good friends there as well as out in madison, wisconsin, on 92.1 the mike. you talk about a progressive capital of the world. madison, wisconsin, very proud to be part of the line-up out there. in the morning. so thank you, all. remember, while we go away on current, we'll come back on the tv side on september 3rd on freespeech tv. you can find free speech tv on your television set. if you have a satellite dish. on the dish network or on directv and then we're going to be on a new -- you can also stream the show, watch the show online, whole new internet channel starting up september 3rd called tawkr.tv. they will carry us live during the show, right. and then they'll have the archives. you can go back later in the

day. if you missed it, watch the show or watch any part of the show. there will be different segments of the show. whole thing we've never had before. we'll be bigger and better. >> archives. >> you know the downside of having archives? one day, bill press will decide to stop doing his show. it will happen. god forbid. 30 years from now. >> bill: i will decide or god will decide. >> when you decide to stop doing your show, somebody's gotta decide what to do with the archives. this is going to be a huge fight for families. >> that's a good point. >> gotta think about these things. johnny carson's archives are buried underground in his hometown in the midwest. >> is that right? >> yeah. they had a big thing on johnny carson and how his production company has all of the tapes and they're buried underground in a bunker. so the nuclear strike may happen. johnny carson lives.

>> bill: this is -- lots of possibilities. >> in the bunker. i like it. >> bill: can i sell them? >> you can franchise it out. >> bill: anything. good. 13 minutes. >> computer version of the press. you can be here forever. >> a phrase for every occasion. we can piece it altogether. have you say anything we want. >> bill: that's the question of the hour. what should i do with my archives? can we talk about some more serious stuff here? how about -- i can't believe are republicans really talking about shutting down the government? >> i think it is just like -- it is an annual thing. they just cannot -- can't release themselves from this -- >> bill: but they know it's not going to happen, right? it could happen. either it's not going to happen or -- if it does happen, they get the blame, right? >> they're trying to control the

crazies. but the ted cruzs of the world are ready to go over the cliff. they want everybody to stiffen up their spines and don't compromise. while everyone else who understands the way these things work, the president does not get the blame for trying to keep the government functioning while the republicans are trying to shut it down. >> bill: so what does it say when you have people like karl rove, newt gingrich even. john mccain. telling the fellow republicans this is nuts. don't go there. you know? civil war inside the republican party, right? >> you've got all of the folks who really do not care about anything an established republican has to say. as far as they're concerned, you know, frankly, they want the government to just stop working. government shutdown is perfectly fine for them. the problem is the other 75% of people in the country want to be able to go down and you know, get their business taken care of by the federal government. >> bill: they want to shut it

down over obamacare and the latest is well, we've tried to repeal obamacare 40 times. that doesn't work. now the new strategy is we'll defund it, right? >> right. >> bill: also not going to work. >> i love what the president said. he said you know, they used to say repeal and replace. they don't even say replace anymore. they have no desire to replace it. >> bill: they never had a replacing plan. it was all just a shadow campaign to convince you to get rid of it. so 30 million people don't get healthcare. 26-year-olds and under don't get to stay on their parent's healthcare. people with pre-existing conditions get bounced off of their insurance. that's what they want for the country. some part of me wants to say -- don't have it. it would hurt too many people. >> bill: the president was strong on that. i was there at the news conference when he said so denying 30 million people the opportunity to buy health insurance which they've never been able to buy before for various reasons at premiums

they've never seen before because they were the lowest ever, that is the goal of a republican party. the people are making it their goal to either repeal, defund or you know, shut down the program. insane. >> they have no other plan. they have no positive agenda whatsoever. >> bill: does the president blink when it comes to the threat and if republicans carry through with this? >> i don't think there is any reason to blink. there is no margin in it. as far as he's concerned, he stands up, stays strong, tells people what he wants. one thing barack obama will be judge by in the history books is what happens on healthcare. >> bill: on that point -- >> which is why people have to enroll by october 1st. >> bill: absolutely. we've got to get the word out there. dan, americans united for change. brad woodhouse was in studio

earlier. they're out there as part of this effort to -- you have to enroll and obamacare is working. here is an ad they just put out. >> the news is in. healthcare premiums are tumbling. seniors are paying less for their prescriptions. no one can be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition. all thanks to obamacare. but republicans would take it all away. republicans have voted nearly 40 times to roll back obamacare. republicans want to take your benefits away and put insurance companies back in charge. obamacare is working. tell the republicans hands off obamacare. >> bill: that's a message, pretty strong message. and the president's message, too, is you've got an opportunity starting october 1, if you don't get healthcare, already have it at your workplace to sign up for the exchanges. >> they're really focused, too, on any moms out there who are listening, if you've got a

22-year-old son or daughter out there who thinks they're invincible, nothing is ever going to stop them, they can sign up for healthcare. your job is to get them signed up. there is a catastrophic plan. might cost as little as $7 a month. but get them in the system. the moms can get their kids in the system and when they're 26, 27, 28, after they're off their own healthcare, that will help solve the problem for everyone else. >> bill: the congressional budget office now says the deficit -- this should have gotten headlines and it didn't. i thought it was very interesting. the deficit this year, so far, is about 38% less than it was last year. and we're going to end up with a deficit -- the deficit has been running like $1.2 trillion a year. it is going to end up being about $600 billion this year. not quite half. but let's say 40% of what it was.

action, why isn't this being reported more widely? but also, doesn't this prove that this whole emphasis on spending is out of control. we've got to cut spending. it is the number one priority is just wrong. >> it is wrong because we don't actually have a short-term spending problem. in the long-term, we've got to deal with it. >> bill: republicans, all they're talking about. >> deal with all of the big numbers coming at us just because demographic changes are occurring. gotta figure out how to fund medicare. i wrote a column about this week on usnews.com about a program at morehouse college, my alma mater called the hops scholarship program. it use to the put 100 young black men through morehouse college in sciences. they have 3.0s, 65% of the guys over the last four years have gone on to graduate school. you know how many people --

there were 100 people in the program. you know how many? 37? because they went from $2 million of funding a year to $500,000 of funding and this year they haven't gotten any funding so they let in zero. they gave zero scholarships this year. they gave nine out last year. >> bill: where does the money come from? >> from the department of defense. science research program to help produce young scientists. they went to school in engineering, chemistry, biology, physics, all of that and it is now over. it could be over because the department of defense has now been shrinking the funding because of the budget cutting madness. things like that are happening all over the country where we're supposed to be producing people who can help get the jobs, build a new science, create the companies, that the country is going to live off for the next generation. we have been cutting them steadily. they went from 100 to 37, this year, zero people. zero people in the program if we don't fund it. >> bill: another good example when you look at the unemployment numbers and you look at the construction

opportunities and projects are not being built because of the sequester. this is a time -- i think, to be spending more money. not spending less. >> they're trying to figure it out by letting in more people with visas who have high skills but we can grow the talent here in the united states if we invest in young people! people in high school and around the country and then people in college and trade schools. but we're not spending any money on that. we're not fixing bridges. we don't have high-speed rail being built. our airports are crumbling. it is horrible. it is happening because of our infrastructure and we're not dealing with it because the republicans have us all around the neck with this fake spending problem that's happening right now in the domestic discretionary budget. >> bill: amen. jamal simmons here, democratic strategist. we're on a roll on the "full court press" on this thursday. joe cirincione will join us at the half to talk about egypt and other important matters. stay with us. we'll be right back here on the

"full court press." >> announcer: this is the "bill press show."

cenk off air alright in 15 minutes we're going to do the young turks! i think the number 1 thing than viewers like about the young turks is that were honest. they know that i'm not bsing them for some hidden agenda, actually supporting one party or the other. when the democrats are wrong, they know i'm going to be the first one to call them out. cenk on air>> what's unacceptable is how washington continues to screw the middle class over. cenk off air i don't want the middle class taking the brunt of the spending cuts and all the different programs that wind up hurting the middle class. cenk on air you got to go to the local level, the state level and we have to fight hard to make sure they can't buy our politics anymore. cenk off air and they can question if i'm right about that. but i think the audience gets that, i actually mean it. cenk on air 3 trillion dollars in spending cuts! narrator uniquely progressive and always topical, the worlds largest online news show is on current tv. cenk off air and i think the audience gets, "this guys to best of his abilities is trying to look out

for us." only on current tv! >> bill: the "full court press." a big shout out to our friends in phoenix, arizona. kphx, our great affiliate out there. in cleveland, ohio, wabx a.m. wabq a.m. we were with you yesterday. we'll be with you tomorrow. peter? >> just a quick comment. our friend, deputy labor secretary seth hairs tweeting this morning says thanks to bill

press for a great run on current. looking forward to your next incarnation and smart interviews and discussion. he sent that to us on twitter where we're tweeting at bpshow. >> bill: very nice. seth, good to hear from you. looks like cory booker next senator from new jersey. >> looks like it's going to happen. >> bill: boy, he really soared in that primary, man. >> he did. he was helped by chris christie. making that short primary. his big popularity numbers really work. he got a bunch of attention. he moved it -- he moved the chains on it. >> bill: i thought it was sad yesterday to see the former congressman jesse jackson jr. assigned -- 30 months. >> 30 months in jail. it is a real tragedy. such great promise. the one thing you can say about jesse jackson jr. for all of the mistakes he's made, he's standing up, accepting his blame. he says no one else is to blame. he made mistakes. he's going to go and do his sentence and figure out what to do with the rest of his life.

but you know -- unlike a-rod, he's going to take it and keep moving. >> bill: he has handled it with dignity. i feel sorry for him, for his family. and you're right. at one time, he was one of the real rising stars of the democratic party. >> remember, we had all of the sons of who had gone to congress. jesse jackson jr., harold ford jr., patrick kennedy, a whole group of them who came in the '90s. none of them congressmen. >> bill: joe cirincione will join us. we'll find out the latest about egypt. have you seen "the butler" yet? >> it comes out tomorrow. i hear great things about it. movie about the african-american butler at the white house for generations. he had been there. >> bill: it looks great! oprah winfrey is in it. coming at a very good time with the anniversary, too. joe cirincione is coming up

next. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show." >> did anyone tell the pilgrims they should self-deport? >> no, they said "make us a turkey and make it fast". >> (laughter). >> she gets the comedians laughing. >> that's the best! >> that's hilarious. >> ... and the thinkers thinking. >> okay, so there is wiggle room in the ten commandments is what you're telling me. >> she's joy behar. >> ya, i consider you jew-talian. >> okay, whatever you want. >> who plays kafka? >> who saw kafka? >> who ever saw kafka? >> (laughter). >> asking the tough questions. >> chris brown, i mean you wouldn't let one of your daughters go out with him. >> absolutely not. >> you would rather deal with ahmadinejad then me? >> absolutely! >> (singing) >> i take lipitor, thats it. >> are you improving your lips? >> (laughter). >> when she's talking, you never know where the conversation is going to go. >> it looks like anthony wiener is throwing his hat in the ring. >> his what in the ring? >> his hat. >> always outspoken, joy behar.

>> and the best part is that current will let me say anything. what the hell were they thinking? >> only on current tv.

>> bill: the "full court press" coming to you live from our nation's capital. brought to you by afscme. under president lee saunders. find out more about their good work, the men and women of afscme at afscme.org.

again, our last day on current tv. but -- last half hour. want to remind you we're primarily a radio show and proud to be part of the line-up for all of our -- on all of our progressive affiliates around the country and will continue to do so. a big shoutout to krxa in monterey, salinas, california. all of our good friends down in asheville, north carolina. at 880, the revolution. brian hall does a great job there as program director and good friend of ours. we love going to asheville. you guys know asheville? >> yeah. beautiful. >> bill: great town. >> i'm going down to talk to the world affairs council later this year. >> bill: you should go to the buchon restaurant. you can go to 12 bones, the barbecue place, during the day.

>> they have a vegetarian option there? >> bill: screw that! in asheville, barbecue, baby. >> bend the rules. >> fried okra. >> bill: jamal simmons here as a "friend of bill" this entire hour. can't wait to get to asheville. and joe cirincione here from the ploughshares fund. joe, we've been having a lot of fun this morning. not fun to talk about egypt. we have to talk about the situation yesterday, the latest death toll we've seen is 525. the egyptian military moved in there and just opened fire on these protestors. sort of like the occupy people, right? they set up a camp. >> right. so let's start with this. these were serious camps. they were doing construction of these camps and the muslim brotherhood which was running these protest sites is very organize and so they were in there for the long haul.

people getting married. in these camps. so they moved in yesterday, the military force and the direction of general moved in yesterday and these guys, they took prison ers. >> bill: there were several journalists killed as well. >> latest death toll, the 575. "new york times" says they counted 200 additional bodies so it is at least 700. most people expect 2,000 is how many -- so we expect the death toll to continue to climb. over 2,000 people reported wounded or injured in this. so this is a massacre. this is not putting down a rebellion. this is not breaking up peaceful demonstration. this is like -- i don't remember when we've seen anything like this in the world. in the last ten years. aside from syria.

the closest comparison is assad. massacring his people. bombing whole cities. this is awfully close. this is awful close. it is a sign of difficult, new stage. it is not -- going don't far to say this could be the beginning of a civil war in egypt. >> bill: how can -- the united states then stand by -- i want to play a quick clip and i don't blame him for this at all. josh ernest, deputy press secretary up in martha's vineyard. this is basically as strong as we get. >> you've repeatedly called on the egyptian military and forces to show restraint and for the government to respect the universal rights of its citizens just as we've urged protestors to demonstrate peacefully. >> bill: that's sort of like setting up a moral equivalency between the protestors and the military. you know? and again, so we keep -- we say we condemn the violence. we send our condolences to the

families of the victims and we ask the military please, please, please, don't do it anymore. this is not enough, joe. >> i don't know if you want to jump in. so let's be clear. there is violence on the other side. it is clear some of the protestors -- we have videos of them firing automatic weapons at the military. there's caches of ammunition that were found. and policemen have died. at least 90 policemen who were part of the death toll. you saw the pictures of some of the protestors pushing over an armored personnel vehicle off a bridge. crashing to the road below with five policemen in there. the scale is completely out of whack. no question that this is a military massacre and these other people are resisting the massacre number one. number two, these kinds of warnings that you heard from the white house, that's what they were saying to the military before they overthrew morsi.

the democratically-elected president. you and i run the show. you said this is a coup. of course it is a coup. i was saying well, i don't know. >> bill: that's what the white house has been saying. we don't use that word. >> let me just say what my wife likes to hear me say. you were right. i was wrong. i will never do this again. a coup is a coup. you were right. clearly by not acting forcefully enough at the beginning, you could say that the administration has facilitated or has enabled this kind of reaction. what should we do now? cut off aid. immediately. today. today is not too soon to cut off the aid. say that it won't resume until it's clear the military government goes back to -- what's said in its commitment to restore democracy. >> bill: $1.3 billion a year. how can we justify giving the thugs $1.3 billion a year? >> i imagine this is a very

tough situation for the administration. >> bill: i'm sure it is. >> the point you are all are making are valid and clear because what you've got is you've got clear humanitarian concerns on the ground. people being hurt and killed. there are no virgins in this. everybody over there, involved in this has got some problem that we're trying to wrestle with. at the same time, you have a border with israel that everyone is concerned about. the egyptians partially, you know, kind of the broad stroke of this is a lot of the money is being spent to help maintain the peace between egypt and israel and keep the border at some amount of stability. so that is a clear interest of the united states government and just taking the money away, help or hurt that -- maintaining that border. >> bill: it is a complicated equation. there's no doubt about it. but it does seem that this does not -- it seems that the military is not going down the path toward greater democracy in egypt. >> that's right. >> that may be -- the biggest -- the question is that the only

lever that we have in this and if we use it, what happens after we use it? and if they don't stop after we use it, then what do we do? >> they're aiding the interim -- called the interim governments, saudi arabia step up. major aid package that's triple what we're giving and some of the other gulf states. so egypt has other options. i've been taking my cues from mohammed. that's one of the reasons i had a different view on this because remember, he joined the government after the coup. and his political party endorsed the coup. they said this was an impeachment in the streets. they wanted a morsi government out. they had no constitutional way to get them out. you and i talked about this. what about elections? but so he joined the government and he resigned yesterday. said he did not want blood on his hands. did not want to support this in any way. and i think that should be a signal to all of us. we have to break also with this

regime. it's gone beyond the pale. this is way too far. this is restoring a military authoritarian regime in egypt. that's what i think they're trying to do. they think they can stamp out the brotherhood. this is lunacy. these people got 40% of the vote. they were with us -- if you count the or islamist forces, almost 2/3 of the country voting to put these people -- you cannot step this -- stamp this movement out by violent means. that's what i mean about civil war. this protests are not going away. this conflict is not going away. it will get worse. >> bill: that's a problem i had with it from the beginning. again, i notice maybe it's% simplistic to say but so they throw out mubarak and they have their first open and free elections, morsi won. then maybe the majority of the egyptian people are not happy with the way he's running the country but he was elected for four years.

right? so they threw -- that's not the way democracy works. >> this goes to the core issue of how we pursue democracy around the world. you can't just call upon elections and call that a democracy. there are certain civil society institutions that have to exist. we have to have process and invest in the system. education and training and infrastructure. by going around the world calling for elections, that's not necessarily going to lead to a government that is inclusive and respectful of minorities that we would like to have in a democratic system. so elections do not a democracy make. >> revolutions do not necessarily a democracy make. that's what you're seeing here historically. this classic situation. a revolution happens. the liberal side with the revolutionaries. it turns out, in this case, they were elected into office. they're going further than the liberals want. they swing back. the regime they just overthrew. you see the liberal block.

they're still blocking with the military because they want a restoration. this looks like europe in the early 1800s all over again. we can be in for decades of this kind of struggle, this kind of unrest in the region. >> bill: and egypt -- really the kingpin. the cornerstone of the whole middle east -- >> largest, most established, most politically, most culturally significant country in the middle east. >> whoa. >> bill: trying to sort our way out of this with the help of joe cirincione and jamal simmons. your calls welcome at 1-866-55-press. >> announcer: this is the "bill press show."

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>> announcer: like politics, then like the "bill press show." on facebook. this is the "bill press show." >> bill: 12 minutes before the top of the hour. in studio with us, joe cirincione from the ploughshares fund. ploughshares.org. and jamal simmons, democratic strategist, continuing our conversation about -- solving all of the world's problems here this morning. put it that way. back to our conversation, just a second here. but again, always keeping my eyes open for stories about identity theft. here is one out of connecticut. two connecticut women answered a job posting, man claiming he was hiring for a national company. they paid him $40 and then turned over all of their private information, social security numbers, addresses and birth dates and of course, guess what, they ended up being victims of

identity theft. don't let it happen to you. protect yourself with lifelock ultimate. the most comprehensive i.d. theft protection available today. even protects your bank accounts from takeover fraud. but of course, lifelock services can't protect you or your bank account if you're not a member. visit lifelock.com or call and you mention press 10 and you'll get 10% off your lifelock ultimate membership. works for me. it will work for you as well. call the number to call, 1-800-356-5967. again, big shout out to our great progressive radio affiliates all across the country today. and maybe saving the biggest and the best until last, all of our good friends in chicago. at the great wcpt in chicago. wcpt a.m. and the three f.m. affiliates

that cover not only the city of chicago but all the surrounding suburbs and all the way up into maine and illinois and wisconsin and all the way around there through the midwest. thank you all of four good friends in chicago. charlie gross keeps the operation going. fred ikner is the owner of the stations. we're very proud and grateful to be your morning line-up in chicago. you know, there they are carrying joe cirincione and jamal simmons. out in chicago. hey, guys. so, jamal, on this -- do you think the president should take some time out at martha's vineyard to talk about this? >> my guess is he's probably spending more time on this than he wants to be. >> bill: do you think he should publicly come out? >> yes. >> bill: if you were advising him, would you say yes? >> here's my general view about the presidency which i sometimes quarrel with the white house about. they seem to be a little too reactive. they wait for events to get so

far down the line before they come out and make a statement that they don't seem to be in charge of what's happening. what i know is behind the scenes, they spend a lot of time working with issues, paying attention to them. secretary kerry is there. susan rice has been briefing the president. but sometimes if you're president, you have to get out there, show the american public that you're really in charge. you've got this under control. it may even be just a pool -- bring the pool together, do a one-minute statement. don't even take any questions and keep moving but getting ahead of these things is usually better than waiting for them to get so far that people drag out to podium. >> bill: what do you think, joe? >> i think you're right. this is a message to send to the world. the secretary of state could send it. susan rice could send it but you really want the president of the united states saying we will not stand by idly while we have this massive violation of human rights, the core principles of our nation, you know. we want them for our own people. we want them for people overseas. we stand against this.

we stand with you. >> this is a very important point because it is not just for the american people. the president sends a signal around the world about what he values and what he thinks are important and the things he wants to see happen in the world. people are waiting for his cue. >> bill: the other thing that we've talked about and i certainly agree with you, it was a coup and now, therefore, legally, we're on lined to cut off the aid. once we admit it was a coup that we should do that starting today. should have done it before. you must admit, our options are really limited though. beyond that, and people have to understand -- what can we do? >> there are a lot of people around the world and the neoconservatives who have been forceful in the defense of democracy and egypt, do expect the united states to come in and do something about this. and can control it and can shape the world. where we can't. we have leverage. we have influence. we have allies in the region. those are all of the kinds of things we have to work and have a long view. >> bill: i'm going to interrupt you with about 30

seconds or so, you had an important message about -- jamal and i were talking sequester. before you came in. >> given the sequester, we protect certain things. the department of defense is protecting certain things. so we're paying the combat pay of our soldiers, for example. you don't want to cut that off. the department of defense is protecting nuclear weapons. we have 5,000 nuclear weapons. we spend about $50 billion on the weapons every year in related programs. the department of defense is saying this is essential to the defense of the country. this is crazy. this is cold war logic. this is not the president's policy. we have to pay the troops. we have to end the civilian furloughs. we have to keep our conventional forces in the field. we can afford a 10% cut in the nuclear weapons budget. >> bill: this would be a good excuse to cut the budget. >> if it would help the president implement the policy but you have the cold war thinkers still dominating the department of defense. it is time to move on. >> bill: couldn't have two

better friends of bill here this hour. >> congratulations. >> bill: we carry on. >> absolutely. >> ready for the next phase. >> bill: always great to see you. good phases for radio. you have good faces for radio. >> announcer: download podcast at billpressshow.com. listen any time, anywhere. this is the "bill press show." they can question if i'm right about that. but i think the audience gets that, i actually mean it. cenk on air 3 trillion dollars in spending cuts! narrator uniquely progressive and always topical, the worlds largest online news show is on current tv. cenk off air and i think the audience gets, "this guys to best of his abilities is trying to look out for us." only on current tv!

you know who is coming on to me now? you know the kind of guys that do reverse mortgage commercials? those types are coming on to me all the time now. (vo) she gets the comedians laughing and the thinkers thinking. >>ok, so there's wiggle room in the ten commandments, that's what you're saying. you would rather deal with ahmadinejad than me. >>absolutely. >> and so would mitt romney. (vo) she's joy behar. >>and the best part is that current will let me say

anything. what the hell were they thinking? this show is about being up to date, staying in touch with everything that is going on politically and putting my own nuance on it. in reality it's not like they actually care. this is purely about political grandstanding. >> bill: today we say good-bye to current tv. current had a good run, brought some really talented people to

the screen. keith olbermann, jennifer granholm, eliot spitzer, joy behar, stephanie miller, john fuglesang, cenk uygur. unfortunately, al gore decided he would rather cash out than carry out his vision of building america's truly first progressive tv network. but it is important to remember this "bill press show" was and remains primarily a radio show. yes, for a year and a half we might have been covered on tv but now that that's over, we remain your wake-up call on all of our great progressive radio stations across the country. starting september 3rd, in addition to radio, we'll also be coming to you online at tawkr.tv and again on television on the dish network and directv. so today, good-bye and thanks to all of you watching us on current tv. and for everybody else, the show must go on! we'll go on. we'll see you tomorrow right here on the radio. ousted.

[♪ theme music ] >> stephanie: all right. hello, current tv land. oh, you know, chris, how they say, it looks darkest just before the light, it's our last day here on current tv. >> actually it is before the down. >> stephanie: yes. however, jacki schechner california supreme court